Substance Use & Misuse at School

The following resource has been developed to provide you with valuable
information and programs that can improve the health of the children and youth
at your school. The resource has been developed based on three components of the
Ministry of Education's Foundations for a Healthy School framework
(external link): Curriculum, Teaching and Learning; Social and
Physical Environments; and Home, School and Community Partnerships. For
information on student leadership and engagement strategies, please visit our
Youth
Engagement pages.

Elementary

OPHEA Curriculum Links (external link)
Lesson plans and teacher and student resources to support the 2010 Health and
Physical Education curriculum. Contact school board curriculum consultant for
more information.

Take Action series (external link)
A downloadable resource for grades 1-8 that teaches safety awareness regarding
medicines and harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol through integration of
health and physical education expectations.

Elementary & Secondary

A to Z Substance Use (external link)
An online learning resource that was designed by mindyourmind with youth aged 14-16 in mind. It aims to be a plain language resource to explore the topic of substance use.

Blogs on Alcohol and Teens (external link)
Covering topics like partying and alcohol in the media, HaltonParents Blog posts
reflect everyday experiences, challenges, worries, and joys as a parent of teens
in Halton.

Blogs on Tobacco and Teens (external link)
Covering such topics as smoking in movies, new tobacco trends, and how to talk
to kids about smoking, HaltonParents Blog posts reflects everyday experiences,
challenges, worries, and joys as a parent of teens in Halton.

iMinds (external link) (Gr. 6-10)
A health literacy resource developed for B.C. schools. Includes grade-specific
teaching modules that explore the relationship between human behaviour,
substance use and mental health.

Low Risk Drinking Guidelines for Youth (LRDG) (external PDF)
The LRDGs recommend that youth delay drinking alcohol for as long as possible,
at least until the legal drinking age. Adherence to these evidence informed
recommendations could limit health and safety risks to youth who choose to
consume alcohol.

Lungs are for Life (external link)
Interactive website providing information and online support for educators,
parents and students in grades K-12. It is designed to complement the Lungs are
for Life Smoking and Drug Prevention Program.

What About Weed? (external link)
A website which dispels some of the myths about marijuana, and gives parents the
tools they need in order to have informed conversations with their kids.

Secondary

'Cycles' (external link)
Educational resource for high schools based on a research project conducted at
the University of British Columbia, School of Nursing. The film can be used to
support dialogue about decision making and marijuana use.

Smoke-Free Movies (external link)
The Ontario Coalition for Smoke-Free Movies website shares about the impact that
smoking in movies can have on young people’s decision to use tobacco products.
Find out how to join the campaign.

Youthrive.ca (external link)
A practical resource to support schools to create communities in which young
people can thrive and develop capacity to realize their own abilities, make
a contribution to society and learn how to take control of their own lives.

Treatment and Counselling

ADAPT (external link) (Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Prevention and
Treatment)
Assessment and treatment services for people with drug, alcohol and gambling
concerns.

Kids Help Phone (24 hours) (external link) 1-800-668-6868
24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Kids Help Phone offers a wide range of professional services, like phone, Live Chat and online resources for children and youth.

North Halton Mental Health Clinic
Community-based psychiatric assessment, treatment, counselling and case
management for clients and their family members. Part of Halton Region’s
Health Department.

ROCK (external link) (Reach Out Centre for Kids)
Mental health centre for children that offers effective and innovative treatment
and therapy; and prevention and early intervention for those having, or at risk
of developing, mental health problems or mental illness.

Our Kids Network (external link)
A community based initiative that can assist with coordinating and providing
services, resources and support for families, schools and the community.

The Posse Project (external link)
A peer outreach support service run by youth for youth living in North
Halton. The group aims to support and encourage safer decision making in
reducing the risks associated with drug use, sex, homelessness, violence and
discrimination.

Our Kids Network (external link)
A community based initiative that can assist with coordinating and providing services, resources and support for families, schools and the community.

The Posse Project (external link)
A peer outreach support service run by youth for youth living in North Halton. The group aims to support and encourage safer decision making in reducing the risks associated with drug use, sex, homelessness, violence and discrimination.

Youth Aiding Youth (external link)
A community based program whose goal is to match volunteers aged 16-24, on a one to one bases with younger children aged 6 to 10 to promote healthy growth and development.